“You're telling me! This year during the Qingming Festival, when my fourth uncle went back to his ancestral home to offer sacrifices, he met a weasel on the road that blocked their path! It was incredibly creepy!”
“That’s nothing; that’s just hearsay. Did you see the news from half a month ago?”
“Official news reported that the Western Xia Imperial Tombs were being looted. They dug up two lifelike corpses and sent them to the National Museum.”
“You haven't seen the photos—good heavens! Those corpses looked so fresh, their skin was radiant, and they even had smiles on their faces like they were still alive. It gave me chills just looking at them!”
People who didn't usually pay attention suddenly realized that strange occurrences were popping up everywhere like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
This change was like boiling a frog in lukewarm water.
At first, no one cared, thinking they were just isolated incidents.
By the time they were jolted awake, they realized the world around them had already undergone a tectonic shift.
“Didn't someone say this building was haunted a while ago?”
Zhang Qiuyu couldn't help but complain:
“I feel like even the fake Taoists and monks near our building have increased.”
No, they might not actually be fakes, Nan Zhi thought to herself.
They might even be external help brought in by the government.
...
While working in the afternoon, the supervisor called Nan Zhi in for a talk. Many colleagues stared at their computer screens, but their hearts had already flown into the office.
—Everyone assumed it was because of what happened during the lunch break—that the big-mouthed guy had gone to file a malicious complaint against her.
Nan Zhi thought so too.
Before going in, she had even prepared her defense.
If it really came down to it, she would just quit.
To her surprise, the supervisor didn't mention it at all.
“Hehe, Little Nan, you've been with the company for nearly two years now, haven't you?”
“How is your family's health lately?”
The supervisor held a large tea mug, carefully choosing his words while a layer of sweat broke out on his chubby face:
“Any difficulties in your life or work? Hehe, I've noticed some significant changes in your mood lately. Have you run into any problems?”
“Quite a few people have mentioned privately that you've been a bit... emotional lately...”
“Don't worry. If something is wrong, tell us, and we can solve it together!”
Nan Zhi understood instantly.
Asking about her family and then her health—he thought she had undergone a “drastic personality change” and was afraid she might one day take a knife to her colleagues!
There was an example in the building next door.
A normally honest and hardworking man suddenly found out he had terminal cancer. Without a word, he bought a fruit knife and stabbed the supervisor who was always exploiting him, badmouthing him, and stealing his credit.
To those who didn't know her well, the change in Nan Zhi was even greater than that man's.
Whether it was standing up to colleagues or just letting loose, she did whatever she wanted, carrying an air of “if you won't have me here, someone else will.”
Compared to her previous plain-water personality, saying she was a different person wasn't an exaggeration.
The supervisor was a good person and usually treated Nan Zhi and the others well.
If he occasionally caught them being late, he would turn a blind eye and let it slide whenever possible.
So, Nan Zhi didn't scare him and simply shook her head with a smile:
“Supervisor, you're overthinking it. I've just had an epiphany lately and decided to change my way of living.”
“I have a good idea of who complained to you. Isn't it just those few who always look for trouble, steal credit, and have big mouths?”
“Don't worry. I might argue with them, but I won't let it affect the progress of my work.”
The supervisor finally relaxed and waved his hand:
“Then it's fine. Someone just reported it to me, so I called you in to ask. Little Nan, I remember from your employee records that your hometown is in Xixiang, right?”
Nan Zhi nodded, confused.
“The National Day holiday is coming up soon, isn't it? The company is thinking of organizing a team-building trip for all departments, and everyone can bring their families.”
The supervisor took a sip of tea, spat out a few leaves, and said slowly:
“I've looked at other tourist spots, but they'll be too crowded during the holiday. So I wanted to ask if there are any less crowded scenic areas near your home.”
Talk about perfect timing!
A pillow for a sleepy head!
“My hometown is near Mulian Village. There are ancient wooden buildings left over from a century ago, very much in the Xixiang style.”
“There are mountains, rivers, natural caves, and unique rock formations near the village. The scenery is quite good.”
“I heard that the surrounding area has been commercialized in recent years, with a commercial street developed. There are plenty of things to eat and do.”
“If we go in October, the temperature is neither too cold nor too hot—it's just right. It should be very comfortable for a team-building trip.”
Nan Zhi was secretly delighted, but she still pretended to think for a moment:
“However, I haven't been in touch with people from my hometown much in the last two years, so that's all I know.”
“Well, I think your hometown sounds great! It's near an ethnic minority village, there are farmhouses, and we can experience the local culture up close.”
The supervisor beamed with joy:
“To be honest, my daughter loves places like that. She's studying architectural design, and she can't look away when she sees those ancient buildings and towers!”
“I've heard that Xixiang has beautiful mountains and rivers. No wonder it produces girls with such spirit and grace.”
“Alright, you can head back. I'll consider the team-building trip further.”
With those words, Nan Zhi knew it was basically a done deal.
Sure enough, when she returned home that evening, news of the October National Day team-building trip to Mulian Village had already spread through the group chat.
Now she had an excuse to return to her ancestral home in Xixiang.
She just didn't know if the things Grandma had left for her were still there.
Nan Zhi rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
...
...
She worked during the day, and at night, she had to continue her journey.
The master and servant of the Wang family looked at the sky and dutifully stopped the carriage, waiting for the shift change.
Nan Zhi opened her eyes once more, skillfully climbed out of the carriage, jumped to the ground, and stretched lazily:
“Phew—the sky is so gloomy. It looks like it's going to rain.”
“Doesn't it? It looks like the rain is about to fall any second. I'm afraid it'll be a downpour tonight.”
Wanniang, holding an umbrella, looked at the low twilight on the horizon and couldn't help but sigh:
“How could there be such a cold-hearted master? He calls you to slay demons in your dreams during the day and doesn't let you go until dark.”
“With your days and nights constantly flipped like this, can your body even take it?”
Ever since Nan Zhi started AFK-cultivating during the day, to outsiders, it looked no different from her being asleep.
So she lied and said she was entering dreams to catch demons and could only be awake at night.
But for Nan Zhi, being in the game was the real overtime.
She stretched her limbs and said casually:
“It's no matter. Cultivation has its own wonders; it's as good as a full night's sleep.”
“Where are we now?”
“We should be reaching the border of Shouzhou. A few more days and we'll enter Shouzhou City, where we can trade the carriage for a boat.”
Wanniang smiled thinly:
“I just don't know if the silver in Sister Ye's pocket will last until we can board the boat.”
Before Nan Zhi left home, she had left half of her silver behind. The rewards issued by the Demon Suppression Division couldn't be spent out here.
The silver spent along the way on supplies, inns, and horse fodder was no small amount.
If the three people and one ghost chartered a boat to Kaifeng, the expenses would be even greater.
“If only I had kept some gold for emergencies...”
Nan Zhi couldn't help but click her tongue, her expression a bit annoyed:
“No wonder the old saying goes, ‘be frugal at home, but generous on the road.’ This silver is disappearing like water. At this rate, by the time we reach Kaifeng, we won't even have enough for an inn.”
Rate on N.U.
